Power distribution system and a method for assembling the power distribution system

ABSTRACT

A power distribution system and a method for assembling the power distribution system are provided. The power distribution system is configured to be mounted on a wall and to hold a plurality of devices thereon. Further, the power distribution system is configured to supply either an AC voltage or a DC voltage to each of the devices.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/681,737, filed May 17, 2005, the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to a power distribution system and a method forassembling the power distribution system.

BACKGROUND

Workbenches are widely utilized in garages to hold equipment, such asradios and lights for example. A problem associated with this approachis the workbenches become cluttered with equipment. Further, some of theequipment is powered with an AC voltage and other equipment is poweredwith a DC voltage. As a result, a plurality of electrical wiresconnected to the equipment are further disposed on the workbench leadingto additional clutter.

Accordingly, the inventors herein have recognized a need for a wallmounted power distribution system that can reduce and/or eliminate theabove identified problem.

SUMMARY

A power distribution system in accordance with an exemplary embodimentis provided. The power distribution system includes a first mountingmember having first and second sides. The first side is configured to bedisposed against a wall. The power distribution system further includesa first power distribution member having third and fourth sides. Thefirst power distribution member is configured to be coupled to the firstmounting member such that the third side is adjacent the second side.The first power distribution member has first and second electricalleads extending along the fourth side in a spaced relationship from oneanother. The power distribution system further includes an AC powerstrip configured to be coupled to the first mounting member such thatthe AC power strip is disposed adjacent the fourth side of the firstpower distribution member. The AC power strip has first and secondelectrical terminals configured to supply an AC voltage. The powerdistribution system further includes an AC/DC converter configured to becoupled to the first mounting member such that the AC/DC converter isdisposed adjacent the first power distribution member. The AC/DCconverter has third and fourth electrical terminals and fifth and sixthelectrical terminals. The third and fourth electrical terminals areconfigured to be electrically coupled to the first and second electricalterminals, respectively, of the AC power strip. The fifth and sixthelectrical terminals are configured to be electrically coupled to thefirst and second electrical leads, respectively, of the first powerdistribution member. The fifth and sixth electrical terminals supply aDC voltage to the first and second electrical leads. The powerdistribution system further includes a first device configured to becoupled to the first mounting member such that the first device isdisposed adjacent the first power distribution member. The first deviceis electrically connected to the first and second electrical leads andreceiving the DC voltage from the first and second electrical leads.

A method for assembling a power distribution system in accordance withan exemplary embodiment is provided. The method includes mounting afirst mounting member to a wall. The first mounting member has first andsecond sides. The first side is disposed against the wall. The methodfurther includes coupling a first power distribution member to themounting member. The first power distribution member has third andfourth sides. The third side is disposed adjacent the second side of themounting member. The power distribution member has first and secondelectrical leads extending along the fourth side in a spacedrelationship from one another. The method further includes coupling anAC power strip to the first mounting member such that the AC power stripis disposed adjacent the fourth side of the first power distributionmember. The AC power strip has first and second electrical terminalsconfigured to supply an AC voltage. The method further includes couplingan AC/DC converter to the first mounting member such that the AC/DCconverter is disposed adjacent the fourth side of the first powerdistribution member. The AC/DC converter has third and fourth electricalterminals and fifth and sixth terminals. The third and fourth electricalterminals are configured to be electrically coupled to the first andsecond electrical terminals, respectively, of the AC power strip. Thefifth and sixth electrical terminals are configured to be electricallycoupled to the first and second electrical leads, respectively, of thefirst power distribution member. The fifth and sixth electricalterminals supply a DC voltage to the first and second electrical leads.The method further includes coupling a first device to the firstmounting member such that the first device is disposed adjacent thefirst power distribution member. The first device is electricallyconnected to the first and second electrical leads and receiving the DCvoltage from the first and second electrical leads.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a power distribution system in accordance withan exemplar embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a mounting member utilized in the powerdistribution system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic of a power distribution member utilized in thepower distribution system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic of a portion of the power distributionsystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional schematic of an AC power strip, a mountingmember, and a power distribution member utilized in a power distributionsystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional schematic of an AC/DC converter, a mountingmember and a power distribution member utilized in the powerdistribution system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional schematic of a storage module, a mountingmember, and a power distribution member utilized in the powerdistribution system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a front view of a light emitting module utilized in the powerdistribution system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a power distribution system 10 for providing an ACelectrical voltage and a DC electrical voltage is illustrated. The powerdistribution system 10 is configured to be mounted on a wall 31. Thepower distribution system 10 includes a mounting member 12, a powerdistribution member 14, an AC power strip 16, an AC/DC converter 18, astorage module 19, a light emitting module 20, an interconnector device21, a mounting member 22, a power distribution member 24, a lightemitting module 28, and a radio 30.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the mounting member 12 is provided to bemounted on the wall 31 and to hold the power distribution member 14, theAC power strip 16, the AC/DC converter 18, the storage module 10, andthe light emitting module 20 thereon. The mounting member 12 includes anelongated plate 50, flange portions 52, 54, and tab portions 56, 58. Theelongated plate 50 and the flange portions 52, 54 define a side 60 and aside 62 opposite side 60. The flange portions 52, 54 are disposedopposite one another on the elongated plate 50. The elongated plate 50has apertures 63, 64 and 65 extending therethrough for allowingfastening devices such as screws to be disposed therethrough forfastening the mounting member 12 to the wall 31.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the power distribution member 14 is providedto be removably coupled to the mounting member 12. Further, the powerdistribution member 14 is provided to supply a DC voltage to the variousdevices electrically coupled to the power distribution member 14. Thepower distribution member 14 includes an elongated plate 68 and sideportions 72, 74 that define a side 84 and a side 86 opposite the side84. The side portions 72, 74 are disposed opposite one another on theelongated plate 68. The side portion 72 includes a groove 76 forreceiving the tab portion 56 of the mounting member 12 therein.Similarly, the side portion 74 includes a groove 78 for receiving thetab portion 58 of the mounting member 12 therein. The side portion 72further includes a groove 80 extending therein and side portion 74further includes a groove 82 therein. The electrical leads 90, 92 aredisposed within the grooves 80, 82, respectively. The electrical leads90, 92 are constructed from a conductive metal or metal alloy.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the AC power strip 16 is provided to supplyan AC voltage to a plurality of other devices including the AC/DCconverter 18. Further, the AC power strip 16 is configured to beremovably coupled to the mounting member 12. The AC power strip includesa housing 98, tab portions 100, 101, attachment portions 107, 109 andtwo other attachment portions (not shown), AC electrical outlets 102, apower cord 104, and an AC electrical outlet 106. The housing 98 isprovided to hold the other components of the AC power strip 16 therein.The tab portions 100, 101 extend from a rear surface of the housing 98and are configured to contact the side portions 72, 74, respectively ofthe power distribution member 14. The AC electrical outlets 102 arecoupled to a front surface of the housing 98 and are provided to allow auser to plug in a plurality of other devices to power the devices. TheAC electrical outlet 106 is disposed on a side surface of the housing 98and is provided to be electrically coupled to the AC/DC converter 18.The power cord 104 is electrically coupled to the AC electrical outlets102 and to the AC electrical outlet 106 for supplying an AC voltagethereto. The attachment portions 107 and 109 extend from a rear surfaceof the housing 98 and are configured to be removably coupled to theflange portions 52, 54, respectively, of the mounting member 12.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the AC/DC converter 18 is provided to beelectrically coupled to the AC power strip 16 and to generate a DCvoltage on electrical terminals 128, 130. Further, the AC/DC converter18 is configured to be removably coupled to the mounting member 12. TheAC/DC converter 18 includes a housing 110, tab portions 120, 122,attachment portions 131, 133 and two other attachment portions notshown, AC electrical terminals 124, 126, and DC electrical terminals128, 130. The housing 110 is provided to hold electronic circuitry (notshown) for converting a received AC voltage to a DC voltage. Forexample, 110 VAC can be converted to 12 VDC. The internal electroniccircuitry is electrically coupled between the AC electrical terminals124, 126 and the DC electrical terminals 128, 130. The tab portions 120,122 extend from a rear surface of the housing 110 and are configured tobe contact the side portions 72, 74, respectively of the powerdistribution member 14. The attachment portions 131, 133 and extend froma rear surface of the housing 110 and are configured to be removablycoupled to the flange portions 52, 54, respectively, of the mountingmember 12. The AC electrical terminals 124, 126 are disposed of sidesurface of the AC/DC converter 18 such that the terminals 124, 126 arereceived within the electrical terminals 107, 108 of the AC electricaloutlet 104 of the AC power strip 16. The DC electrical terminals 128,130 are disposed within the tab portions 120, 122, respectively and areelectrically coupled to the electrical leads 90, 92 of the powerdistribution member 14. Thus, a DC voltage generated by internalcircuitry of the AC/DC converter 18 is supplied by the electricalterminals 128, 132 and to the electrical leads 90, 92 respectively, ofthe power distribution member 14 contacting the electrical terminals128, 132 respectively.

Referring to FIG. 7, the storage module 19 is provided to be removablycoupled to the mounting member 12. Further, the storage module 19 isprovided to hold items within a region 144 of the storage module 19 andto emit light such that the items can be easily seen by a user. Thestorage module 19 includes a housing 140, a door 142, tab portions 146,148, attachment portions 155, 157 and two other attachment portions notshown, DC electrical terminals 150, 152, a light emitting device 154.The housing 140 is provided to hold the remaining components of thestorage module 19 therein. The door 142 is provided to allow a user toopen the door 142 to access the region 144 for storing items in theregion 144. The tab portions 146, 448 extend from a rear surface of thehousing 140 and are configured to contact the side portions 72, 74,respectively of the power distribution member 14. The attachmentportions 155 and 157 extend from a rear surface of the housing 140 andare configured to be removably coupled to the flange portions 52, 54,respectively, of the mounting member 12. The DC electrical terminals150, 152 are disposed within the tab portions 146, 148, respectively,and are electrically coupled to the electrical leads 90, 92 of the powerdistribution member 14. The DC electrical terminals 150, 152 are furtherelectrically coupled to the light emitting device 154. Thus, a DCvoltage received by the DC electrical terminals 150, 152 induce thelight emitting device 154 to emit light.

Referring to FIG. 1, the light emitting module 20 is provided to bephysically and electrically coupled to the power distribution member 14.Further, the light emitting module 20 is provided the emit lighttherefrom. The light emitting module 20 includes a housing 170, two tabportions (not shown) that are similar to the tab portions 146, 148, fourattachment portions (not shown), a light emitting device 172, and DCelectrical terminals (not shown) that are similar to DC electricalterminals 150, 152. The housing 170 is provided to hold the remainingcomponents of the light emitting module 20. Two tab portions extend froma rear surface of the housing 170 and are configured to be contact sideportions 72, 74, respectively of the power distribution member 14. Thefour attachment portions (not shown) extend from a rear surface of thehousing 140 and are configured to be removably coupled to the flangeportions 52, 54, respectively, of the mounting member 12. Two DCelectrical terminals are disposed within the tab portions and areelectrically coupled to the electrical leads 90, 92 of the powerdistribution member 14. Thus, a DC voltage received by the DC electricalterminals induce the light emitting device 154 to emit light.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8, the interconnector device 41 is provided toelectrically couple the power distribution member 14 to a powerdistribution member 24. Thus, the interconnector device 41 can beutilized to expand the number of devices that can be electricallypowered by the power distribution system 10. The interconnector device21 includes a body portion 180, tab portions 182, 184, 186, 188 andelectrical leads 190, 192. The tab portions 182, 186 extend from a firstside of the body portion 180 and are configured to hold the body portion180 against the combination of the mounting member 12 and the powerdistribution member 14. The tab portions 184, 188 extend from a secondside of the body portion 180 and are configured to hold the body portion180 against the combination of the mounting member 22 and the powerdistribution member 24. The electrical leads 190, 192 disposed withingrooves 194, 196, respectively of the body portion 180. The electricallead 190 is provided to electrically couple the electrical lead 90 ofthe power distribution member 14 to an electrical lead 200 of the powerdistribution member 24. Further, the electrical lead 192 is providedelectrically couple the electrical lead 92 of the power distributionmember 14 to an electrical lead 202 of the power distribution member 24.

Referring to FIG. 1, a mounting member 22 is provided to be mounted onthe wall 31 and to hold the power distribution member 24 thereon. Themounting member 22 has a substantially similar design as the mountingmember 12.

The power distribution member 24 is provided to be coupled to themounting member 22. Further, the power distribution member 24 isprovided to supply a DC voltage to the various devices electricallycoupled to the mounting member 12. The power distribution member 24includes electrical leads 200, 202 disposed on an elongated plate andhas a substantially similar design as the power distribution member 14.

The radio 30 is provided to allow a user to listen to various radioprograms. The radio 30 is configured to be physically coupled to thepower distribution member 14 in a similar manner as the light emittingmodule 20. The radio includes a housing 210 and tab portions (coupled tothe housing 210) which are configured to couple the housing 210 to thepower distribution member 24.

Referring to FIG. 1, a method for assembling a portion of the powerdistribution system 10 in accordance with another exemplary embodimentwill now be explained.

At a first step, the mounting member 12 is mounted to the wall 31utilizing screws. The mounting member 12 has sides 60, 62. The side 60is disposed against the wall 31.

At a second step, the power distribution member 14 is coupled to themounting member 12. The power distribution member 14 has sides 84, 86.The side 84 is configured to be coupled to the side 62 of the mountingmember 12. The power distribution member has electrical leads 90, 92extending along the side 86 in a spaced relationship from one another.

At a third step, the AC power strip 16 is coupled to the mounting member12 such that the AC power strip 16 is disposed adjacent the side 86 ofthe power distribution member 14. The AC power strip 16 has electricalterminals 106, 108 configured to supply an AC voltage.

At a fourth step, the AC/DC converter 18 is coupled to the mountingmember 12 such that the AC/DC converter is disposed adjacent the side 86of the power distribution member 14. The AC/DC converter 18 has ACelectrical terminals 124, 126 and DC electrical terminals 128, 130. TheAC electrical terminals 124, 126 are configured to be electricallycoupled to the AC electrical terminals 107, 108, respectively, of the ACpower strip. The DC electrical terminals 128, 130 are configured to beelectrically coupled to the electrical leads 90, 92, respectively, ofthe power distribution member 14. The DC electrical terminals 128, 130supply a DC voltage to the electrical leads 90, 92.

At a fifth step, the storage module 19 is coupled to the mounting member12 such that the storage module 19 is disposed adjacent the side 86 ofthe power distribution member. The storage module 19 is electricallyconnected to the electrical leads 90, 92 and received the DC voltagefrom the electrical leads 90, 92.

At a sixth step, the light emitting module 28 is coupled to the mountingmember 12 such that the light emitting module 28 is disposed adjacentthe power distribution member 14. The light emitting module 28 iselectrically connected to the electrical leads 90, 92 and receive the DCvoltage from the electrical leads 90, 92.

At a seventh step, the interconnector device 21 is mounted to thecombination of the mounting member 12 and the power distribution member14 such that the electrical leads 190, 192 are electrically coupled tothe electrical leads 90, 92, respectively.

At an eighth step, the mounting member 22 is mounted to the wall 31utilizing screws.

At a ninth step, the power distribution member 24 is physically coupledto the mounting member 22, such that the electrical leads 190, 192 areelectrically coupled to the electrical leads 200, 202, respectively ofthe power distribution member 24.

Finally, at a tenth step, the radio 30 is physically coupled to themounting member such that the radio 30 is disposed adjacent the powerdistribution member 24. The radio 30 is electrically coupled to theelectrical leads 200, 202 and receive the DC voltage therefrom.

The power distribution system 10 provides a substantial advantage overother systems. In particular, the power distribution system 10 providesa technical effect of holding a plurality of devices thereon andsupplying either an AC voltage or a DC voltage to the devices.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplaryembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the invention without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed for carrying outthis invention, but that the invention will include all embodimentsfalling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the use ofthe terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, butrather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one elementfrom another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do notdenote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of atleast one of the referenced item.

1. A power distribution system, comprising: a first mounting memberhaving first and second sides, the first side being configured to bedisposed against a wall; a first power distribution member having thirdand fourth sides, the first power distribution member configured to becoupled to the first mounting member such that the third side isadjacent the second side, the first power distribution member havingfirst and second electrical leads extending along the fourth side in aspaced relationship from one another; an AC power strip configured to becoupled to the first mounting member such that the AC power strip isdisposed adjacent the fourth side of the first power distributionmember, the AC power strip having first and second electrical terminalsconfigured to supply an AC voltage; an AC/DC converter configured to becoupled to the first mounting member such that the AC/DC converter isdisposed adjacent the first power distribution member, the AC/DCconverter having third and fourth electrical terminals and fifth andsixth electrical terminals, the third and fourth electrical terminalsconfigured to be electrically coupled to the first and second electricalterminals, respectively, of the AC power strip, the fifth and sixthelectrical terminals configured to be electrically coupled to the firstand second electrical leads, respectively, of the first powerdistribution member, the fifth and sixth electrical terminals supplyinga DC voltage to the first and second electrical leads; and a firstdevice configured to be coupled to the first mounting member such thatthe first device is disposed adjacent the first power distributionmember, the first device being electrically connected to the first andsecond electrical leads and receiving the DC voltage from the first andsecond electrical leads.
 2. The power distribution system of claim 1,wherein the AC power strip includes a plurality of electrical outlets,each electrical outlet of the plurality of electrical outlets beingadapted to receive a three terminal electrical plug.
 3. The powerdistribution system of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises astorage module having a housing for storing articles, a light emittingdevice disposed in the housing, and seventh and eighth electricalterminals electrically coupled to the light emitting device, the seventhand eighth electrical terminals being further electrically coupled tothe first and second electrical leads, the light emitting deviceemitting light in response to the DC voltage.
 4. The power distributionsystem of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a light emittingmodule having a housing, a light emitting device disposed on thehousing, and seventh and eighth electrical terminals electricallycoupled to the light emitting device, the seventh and eighth electricalterminals being further electrically coupled to the first and secondelectrical leads, the light emitting device emitting light in responseto the DC voltage.
 5. The power distribution system of claim 1, whereinthe first device comprises a radio having seventh and eighth electricalterminals electrically coupled to the first and second electrical leads,the radio being operational in response to the DC voltage.
 6. The powerdistribution system of claim 1, further comprising a second deviceconfigured to be couple to the power distribution member, the seconddevice being electrically connected to the first and second electricalleads and receiving the DC voltage from the first and second electricalleads.
 7. The power distribution system of claim 1, further comprising:an electrical coupler device having third and fourth electrical leads,the third and fourth electrical leads configured to be electricallycoupled to the first and second electrical leads of the first powerdistribution member; a second mounting member having fifth and sixthsides, the fifth side being configured to be disposed against the wallproximate the electrical coupler device; a second power distributionmember having seventh and eighth sides, the second power distributionmember configured to be coupled to the second mounting member such thatthe seventh side is adjacent the sixth side, the second powerdistribution member having fifth and sixth electrical leads extendingalong the eighth side in a spaced relationship to one another, the fifthand sixth electrical leads configured to be electrically connected tothe third and fourth electrical leads, respectively.
 8. A method forassembling a power distribution system, comprising: mounting a firstmounting member to a wall, the first mounting member having first andsecond sides, the first side being disposed against the wall; coupling afirst power distribution member to the mounting member, the first powerdistribution member having third and fourth sides, the third side beingdisposed adjacent the second side of the mounting member, the powerdistribution member having first and second electrical leads extendingalong the fourth side in a spaced relationship from one another;coupling an AC power strip to the first mounting member such that the ACpower strip is disposed adjacent the fourth side of the first powerdistribution member, the AC power strip having first and secondelectrical terminals configured to supply an AC voltage; coupling anAC/DC converter to the first mounting member such that the AC/DCconverter is disposed adjacent the fourth side of the first powerdistribution member, the AC/DC converter having third and fourthelectrical terminals and fifth and sixth terminals, the third and fourthelectrical terminals configured to be electrically coupled to the firstand second electrical terminals, respectively, of the AC power strip,the fifth and sixth electrical terminals configured to be electricallycoupled to the first and second electrical leads, respectively, of thefirst power distribution member, the fifth and sixth electricalterminals supplying a DC voltage to the first and second electricalleads; and coupling a first device to the first mounting member suchthat the first device is disposed adjacent the first power distributionmember, the first device being electrically connected to the first andsecond electrical leads and receiving the DC voltage from the first andsecond electrical leads.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprisingcoupling a second device to the first mounting member such that thesecond device is disposed adjacent the first power distribution member,the second device being electrically connected to the first and secondelectrical leads and receiving the DC voltage from the first and secondelectrical leads.